Musings

A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1997) is an animated tale. I love this cast. Tim Curry as Scrooge, Michael York as Cratchit, Whoopi Goldberg as the Ghost of Christmas Present, Ed Asner as Marley.  Sort of inspired casting.

But this version doesn’t work for me. Maybe it is because it is geared for children, and (in my opinion) dumbed down a little in the process. The flowery prose of Dickens is replaced with plainer language. While I miss the language, children likely appreciate the explanation of what “the power for good” means, and that every nuance is explained. But THE MUPPETS CHRISTMAS CAROL is for children as well, and still has the Dickensian tone.

This CHRISTMAS CAROL isn’t scary. At all. And call me crazy, but a ghost story should be a little scary. Even a cartoon can be scary. This is also a musical. As I’ve mentioned, I don’t have issues with musical versions. However these musical numbers aren’t toe tapping, with the exception of “Sooty Santa”.

The ending is different (Fred and his wife show up at the Cratchits) and it ties everything up in a neat bow. Which is fine, but I like my CHRISTMAS CAROLS with a little grime.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVI37GAUl1Q

SCROOGED is a Richard Donner production, and has that sensibility–sharp, witty and a little naughty. SCROOGED is not fit for all ages. My nieces, for example, won’t be watching it for a few more years. The PG-13 is mostly because of language, but there is some adult comedy that would take some explaining.

The meta references to popular culture are interesting, especially 22 years later. I get them (I was an adult when this movie came out), but don’t know if the next generation will. They mostly center around the “live” TV version that is being planned for Christmas Eve. It’s hard to explain why Buddy Hackett was funny as Scrooge, but the show itself is so absurd that it all works. The Solid Gold Dancers have cleavage issues. They are trying to put antlers on mice. Mary Lou Retton as Tiny Tim may take some explaining, but happily our culture produces lots of current fill ins. And besides, funny is funny, and Bill Murray is funny.

I contend that A CHRISTMAS CAROL transcends time, and this movie proves it. Because Scrooge’s journey (Francis Cross in this case) is the same–Jacob and the three spirits all show up. Ignorance and Want live with the Ghost of Christmas yet to come (OK, that’s wrong), but they are there. Bob Cratchit is played by two characters–Bobcat Goldthwait and Alfre Woodard.  The meta references to how schlocky some versions are helps reinforce the power of the story itself, and yet make it modern. Just watch the beginning of the movie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeIOfXB5EVk

Come on. That is funny. And yet…I defy anyone not to wipe a tear away when Nicholas Cooley says “God Bless Us Everyone” at the end of the movie. And in this version Scrooge and Belle end up together (“its like landing a marlin”) and that is always good.

The past couple of Christmases have developed a new “tradition” which would be hard to schedule. After a flurry of activity with my sister and her family in Maryland, my parents and I have a nightcap and listen to a Washington DC station that plays old radio shows. We’ve caught the Lionel Barrymore version of A CHRISTMAS CAROL. (Scroll down on this link–they have it available on this website.) It isn’t just Lionel Barrymore–it is narrated (and was directed) by Orson Welles.

I love radio plays. You can listen and knit and lose yourself. It always amazes me that you don’t miss the picture, because the narrative structure lets you see the show. Now this is an abridged version (and only runs an hour), and it centers around the star. But it is worth a listen.

And realizing that some people may not know who Lionel Barrymore was (though that makes me sad), he was Mr. Potter in IT”S A WONDERFUL LIFE. He was also great in KEY LARGO and A GUY NAMED JOE and YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU and…

So take an hour and lose yourself in this radio play. (Here’s another website in case the first one doesn’t work.) What do you think?

SCROOGE 1970

Even though SCROOGE is set in the Victorian era, and has wonderful details, there is a 70’s vibe about the movie. Certainly a post OLIVER tone. But let me start at the beginning.

I first saw this version on a Girl Scout field trip. Now if it was the year of release, I was about eight. My sister and I remember being scared witless by a few of the scenes, especially the hell scene at the end of the movie (after Scrooge falls into the grave). Jacob Marley is played by Alec Guinness, which may explain the “extra” hell scene. Wouldn’t you want to use him more? Anyway, I remember being horrified when the half naked sweaty men (very 70’s, those forgers) kept wrapping Scrooge in chains. Remember–we saw it in a movie theater. And I was a wimp.

Scrooge is played by Albert Finney, who was young and handsome but played old and eccentric very well. (See MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS for another example). When Scrooge drinks his soup (just prior to Marley’s visit) you have a sense of the cold and self imposed poverty. Scrooges dirty fingernails also speak to his disregard. And the Belle scene is a killer, with old Scrooge hating having to watch the folly of his younger self. Finney is so good. And the cinematography is wonderful–all grays with flashes of red, like Scrooge’s long underwear.

There are some plot changes–not huge but not insignificant. Belle is Fezziwig’s daughter in this version. We get to know a lot of the townsfolk who owe Scrooge money. Tiny Tim and his cute sister stare at the toy store window longingly while waiting for their father. Most of these changes help support the musical numbers.

Yes, that’s right. This version is a musical.

Maybe that’s one reason for the 70’s vibe–Leslie Bricusse also wrote or co-wrote WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY and DOCTOR DOLITTLE. “Thank You Very Much” came from this movie–you’ve probably heard it, but thought it was from OLIVER or another period 70’s musical.

I suspect that this may not be a great version, but I have such a fondness for it I can’t judge. I loved the “I Like Life” song with the Ghost of Christmas Present (Kenneth More, complete with pendant and chest hair). And I loved the big redemption number at the end. Come on, musical theater and A CHRISTMAS CAROL. How could it go wrong?*

*Let us count the ways…later this month.

A couple of things you should know about me before you read this post.

First, my co-conspirators in this CHRISTMAS CAROL quest are my twin nieces. They will be 8 two days before Christmas. We’ve been watching the MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL for years (and all year long), but this year they are into it. We quote certain lines together. (“Long past?” “Your past.” Pronounced Pahst like a good English spirit). Anyway, their view will be intertwined at points.

Second, I was never a Looney Toon fan. I know, I know. My Greek chorus would be aghast.  But the situations always made me a wreck when I was a kid–would Tweety get eaten? Would Road Runner get squished? Just too much drama. More of a Disney girl I guess.

So I bought BAH HUMDUCK! A LOONEY TUNES CHRISTMAS to add to my Christmas Carol collection, and also because the nieces and nephews (and brothers-in-law) love it, so I figured why not.

Daffy Duck is the Scrooge character. Porky Pig is the Bob Cratchit character, and he appears to be a single father with a cute (but healthy) daughter who is the Tiny Tim stand in. A lot of other Looney Toon characters flood the story as well. It has parallels to Dickens, but isn’t completely faithful (there’s a surprise) and cuts out a lot of the story. Like any part where someone dies Which is to be expected for a cartoon, I suppose.

I didn’t love it, but the nieces did. And I suspect I would have liked it more if I understood more of the character backstory so I could understand the meta references. I know, I’m probably overthinking it.